01 WHAT TO LOOK FOR
A strong focal point is the single most important thing, so look for interesting details that stand alone, like a single post, a pier or building surrounded by moving water or clouds; there’s no point shooting long exposures unless there’s movement in the frame!
02 BANISH LIGHT LEAKS
Often showing as purple patches, light leaks are the enemy of longexposure photography. The two main leakage points are the viewfinder and the filter fixing, so as well as covering up the viewfinder, use a good-quality filter set with tight, light-blocking seals.
03 FIND THE SWEET SPOT
There’s often a temptation to use narrow apertures, like f/16 or f/22, to extend the depth of field. But all lenses have a sweet spot, usually around f/5.6 to f/8.…